In Discussion with Mirjam Varadinis

Courtesy of Art Dubai

Mirjam Varadinis, Curator-at-large Kunsthaus Zurich and Director/Founder of Mirjam Varadinis Art Agency, has an extensive curatorial career with many of her projects addressing expanding formats of contemporary curating, often working beyond the border of the institution.

Mirjam regularly contributes to artists’ publications, catalogues and art magazines and has led on a number of large-scale contemporary exhibitions. Group exhibitions have included Manifesta 12, Palermo, a special project for the 5th Moscow Biennial of Contemporary Art, and an annual festival of contemporary arts in Toulouse, France, using the city as material. Prominent contemporary artists featured in her curatorial projects include Yoko Ono, Olafur Eliasson, Cindy Sherman, Urs Fischer, and she recently worked on an exhibition with Marina Abramović (October 2024).

I had the pleasure of asking Mirjam about what the most rewarding part about being a curator is, what the story is behind an interesting piece of artwork in the exhibition,  her research process behind the fair, and so much more.

UZOMAH: How did you research and acquire the artworks for this exhibition? How do you approach the research and interpretation of objects in a collection and with this exhibition?

MIRJAM: Art Dubai’s Bawwaba section (Bawwaba meaning ‘gateway’ in Arabic), has an emphasis on ultra contemporary presentations with works made in the year leading up to or specifically for the fair. So, fresh perspectives were naturally at the forefront of my mind during the decision-making process, something that is consistent throughout my curatorial practice. I took an ambitious approach to Bawwaba, working with some galleries that I’m familiar with and some that are new to me. I wanted to ensure contemporary relevance by reflecting on models of coexistence across borders, and we’re excited to present 10 solo presentations from 10 countries. The presentations span five continents: South America, North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. You’ll notice many indigenous forms of craft, with historic techniques reappropriated to contemporary media, such as Jorge Rosano Gamboa, who blends pre-historic Hispanic techniques with contemporary media art. At Art Dubai, the works he has prepared will outline the relationships that we as human beings have with water.

Artists and art have a unique ability to define the world around us, and so it was important to consider artists that are reflecting on many of the issues that are critical today, such as climate change, ensuring that we continue to open up the dialogue and discuss novel solutions. This thinking is what informed much of my selection process.

U: What is the most interesting story behind a piece in the section of the exhibition?

M: Bawwaba is a section dedicated to discovery. It is full of interesting narratives and intersections – an essential element for Art Dubai, known for its diverse approaches to art world collaborations. 

We have an exceptionally high calibre of artists exhibiting in the section this year, and each artist uniquely draws upon concepts surrounding ecology and coexistence - both with the planet and among people. So, I hope that each presentation inspires curiosity and interest in the visitors. From Pinksummer’s presentation of Tomás Saraceno, renowned for his sculptures and installations that combine art, urbanism, science, and ecology, to Gulnur Mukazhanova; subverting traditional Central Asian materials like felt to reflect on her home country and the state of global affairs. 

Art Dubai has cultivated a wonderful platform to host these diverse voices, and Bawwaba is exemplary of these efforts.

U: What is the most rewarding part of being a curator? What is the most challenging?

M: Curators are facilitators of dialogues between artists and audiences, and we have an opportunity to create spaces where art can inspire, challenge, and transform perspectives. 

Within this, it can of course be challenging to navigate the complexities of presenting diverse artistic voices in a cohesive manner that resonates with audiences. It is always a task to refine your selection of artists, ensuring not only that the dynamism of the global art world, but also the histories and contemporary conditions that inform the world we inhabit, are reflected. Mediums of art are changing – we can see a huge increase in artists and creators engaging with digital art forms, for example – just as methods of communication and perception are changing at such a pace. To capture this activity within Bawwaba, I didn’t want to focus on diversity, only in relation to geographies, but also in the breadth of the participating galleries and artists. The result has been responses from emerging names such as newcomer Iris Projects, who will be presenting the works of established, Saudi-based Abdullah Al Othman, or Paris-based gallery Art:Concept, presenting works by Kate Newby, a well-known figure, based in New-Zealand. 

These different voices and histories will come  together and cohabit the space of Bawwaba as different species live together on our planet. It’s important to me that visitors are able to feel that element of discovery and experience a moment of surprise, leaving with stories that feel remarkable.

U: What was a successful exhibition you curated? Can you describe the impact it had on the audience?

M: At the end of last year, I curated a retrospective of Marina Abramović, which surveyed her 55-year career. It was the first overview on her work  in Switzerland and the exhibition created a wide range of reactions from visitors, bringing together some of her most extreme performances; from her early works to some of her more recent explorations of silence, deceleration and mindfulness. Decompression Chamber for example, a new work that Marina Abramović conceived especially for Zurich, invited visitors to disconnect from their digital devices and encourage a quiet introspection. At the same time, the exhibition presented some of her most challenging early works, such as Rhythm 0, in which she allowed the audience to use 72 objects—including a gun—to interact with her body. Our team at the museum noted the reactions from visitors as they left the exhibition, some were touched deeply, some couldn’t stand it, but for all it was a strong and emotional experiences- And this is what you ultimately aim for as a curator: to offer an experience and have an impact on the audience.

U: What piqued your interest and made you want to participate in this Fair?

M: Art Dubai has grown to be an incredibly significant art gathering, particularly for those outside of the Western art canon. For me, who is based in Europe, this shift of perspective was very interesting as normally it’s not possible to enter an art institution and engage with rich histories from New Delhi, Tblisi, Seoul or Sao Paulo – but at Art Dubai, it’s expected and actively pursued! Navigating such a range of voices from different geographies implores you to consider where there is common ground between us. Interestingly enough, in Bawwaba, there is a recurrence of traditional craft practices, illustrated across almost all ten presentations. The mediums range from minerals and found glass to natural indigo on unbleached brown Khadi textile. 

This recourse to tradition and history is particularly interesting in an environment such as Dubai, where past and future meet.

U: How do you, as a curator, ensure the success of an exhibition? What are the key factors you consider when measuring its impact?

M: When it comes to the success of an exhibition it’s not only numbers that count. For me public engagement is always key - and of course also that the artists are happy with the exhibition. I’m particularly interested in the public space, or other realms that differ from the traditional museum experience, as this enables you to engage with visitors in a different way. This can lead to strong encounters as it breaks with the routine and can open up new perspectives on the world around you.

U: Can you give some reasons as to why you became a curator?

M: I’m very grateful because I was exposed to art and culture from a very early age. Having grown up with a single mom who was very much interested in arts, from classical music, literature to visual arts, we often visited museums, and being immersed in these spaces completely piqued my interest. I remember as a teenager discovering for the first time the works for Rodin – this was my entry point to the arts, and I haven’t left since. 

U: With a fair like Art Dubai, how do you envision your participation contributing to the global cultural exchange and increasing the interest in the art and culture of Dubai?

M: The platform that the fair has developed over the years encourages global dialogue and exchange, so I have been thrilled to join their efforts and contribute to the region’s fantastic cultural scene. We’ve been able to foreground untold stories and highlight undiscovered art communities, so I hope that this work continues to exemplify the possibilities that are available when you engage with a place such as Dubai. Art Dubai offers varied opportunities to learn, discover and expand, which is what I hope for with every curatorial project that I undertake. It has been a pleasure to be involved in this year’s exciting edition.

U: Do you have any tips or suggestions for artists who want to participate in events like Art Dubai and other art spaces?

M: I’m encouraged by the fact that opportunities to participate are seemingly expanding. The art world is often known for being quite elitist, but so much of my practice is about bringing art to new audiences and communities to experience. I think this is what Bawwaba does so well, it is designed to engage and to foster connections that transcend cultures, geographies and perspectives. This opens the floor for collectors, curators, galleries and artists to reconsider what it means to participate in this space. I think that’s a truly exciting future to look forward to.

This interview was conducted before Art Dubai. For more information about Art Dubai, please visit their site here. Art Dubai can also be found on Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram.